Is it possible to remove the gloss from a guitar safely?
Question:I have a guitar and I want to make it look more natural. But I do not want to compromise the sound of the guitar at all. My question is, is there a way to remove the gloss without compromising the guitar's sound?
Answers:
If it is a guitar of recent vintage, it is most probably lacquered with gloss lacquer and with some expertise and careful work on your part, you can degloss it. You do not want to use one of the abrasive pads on it, I think you can do what you need to do with 0000 steel wool. That has enough abrasive power to knock the sheen down, almost all the way down, without taking off the lacquer entirely.
It would be best if you knew the woods that you were talking about, especially the top, because tops of cedar and spruce are very soft and if you do too much, you can tear into them.
If it is an expensive guitar, I would not do it at all.
Home centers sell abrasive pads. They are color coded to how abrasive they are. You want a grey pad, and just rub gently on the guitar all over to reduce the gloss. Won't affect it acoustically.
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